LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed a complaint lodged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seeking the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup, Indian media reported on Tuesday.
The dispute centres on the Pakistan–India group match in Dubai on Sunday, during which PCB officials alleged Pycroft violated the “Spirit of Cricket” by asking the two captains not to shake hands at the toss. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi claimed the referee’s conduct amounted to a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws.
According to the Press Trust of India, the ICC responded late Monday night, rejecting Pakistan’s plea and confirming that Pycroft would continue in his role. “ICC had sent a reply to PCB stating that Pycroft won’t be removed and their plea has been rejected,” the agency quoted an unnamed official as saying.
However, Cricbuzz reported that the PCB had denied receiving any formal communication from the ICC on the matter. The board has not yet issued an official statement.
The Times of India (TOI), citing sources, said it was not Pycroft but Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials on the ground who had conveyed a “no-handshake policy” to the teams before the toss. It remains unclear whether such a directive was formally adopted by the ACC for the match.
A separate TOI report, quoting a PCB insider, said it was “very unlikely” that Pakistan would withdraw from the Asia Cup over the issue.
Pycroft is scheduled to officiate as match referee in Pakistan’s fixture against the UAE tomorrow, according to an ACC press release issued earlier.
The row follows Sunday’s seven-wicket defeat for Pakistan, where Indian spinners, led by Kuldeep Yadav, secured a comfortable win in Dubai.
The controversy escalated after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his players declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts both at the toss and after the match. In the post-match press conference, Suryakumar linked the gesture to instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government, framing it as a “proper reply” to Pakistan.
He went further, dedicating the victory to Indian armed forces and invoking the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir — an incident that triggered a brief four-day conflict between Delhi and Islamabad in May. “This was a perfect gift for our country,” he said, comments widely described as politicising the contest.
The remarks drew criticism from Pakistan’s camp and cricketing analysts, with coach Mike Hesson calling the behaviour “disappointing”. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha did not attend the post-match ceremony in protest.
